Lead pencil



A. POLLAK LEAD PENCIL May 8, 1923.

Filed March 30. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l S. .I L@ uw ATTRNEY.

INVENTOR /mw/V /Daafsw MY \h.

May 8, 1923. 1,454,136 A. POLLAK LEAD YENCIL Filed March so, 1922 2 sheets-sheet 2 INVENToR.- iAW/v fa. sw

ATTORNEY.

' Patent@ May 3, 1923.

U POLLAK, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y, ASSIGNOR TO SAMUEL fr il i a YORK, N. Y.

LEAD PENCIL.

Application filed March 80, 1922.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABRAHAM POLLAK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented Certain new and useful improvements in Lead Pencils, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in mechanical lead pencils, and it consists in the novelfeatures, structure and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims, whereby a pencil of improved character is produced.

One object of my invention is to provide an efficient and mechanically practical novel lead pencil in the use of which on the rotation in one direction of a part of the pencil, the stick of lead may be propelled forwardly to expose its outer end for writing purposes and on the rotation of said part in a reverse direction, the stick of lead will be retracted within the pencil.

A special object of the invention is to provide a novel construction of encil in which the stick or piece of lead a er having been suiliciently consumed may on the rotation of a part of the pencil, be wholly expelled from the pencil.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a pencil whose parts are of novel character and operation and may be readil constructed and'assembled and which encil will be durable and highly elicient 1n use and be capable of exposing the lead for writing purposes, retracting the lead when the use thereof has concluded' andnally expelling an unduly short lpiece of lead entirely from the pencil.

The invention made the subject iol this application embracesv certain improvements on the lead pencil disclosed in my a plication Serial he. 535,273 for Letters atent,

filed February 9, 1922.

rEhe nature and purposes of the invention 'will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings, in w ich: i

Fig. 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section through a pencil constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention, the parte ofiithe pencil being shown in the Serial No. 548,104.

relation they have when the lead is exposed for writing purposes;

Fig. k2 1s a substantially corresponding section, on a larger scale and partly broken away, through the same, with the mechanism shown'k as in the operation of expelling .a short piece of lead from. the pencil;

Fig. 3 isa corresponding view illustrating the relation ofthe parts of the pencil at the time the short piece of lead has been wholly expelled;

F ig.'4 is a further corresponding view showing the relation of the parts after the lead has .been expelled from the pencil'and the propeller has been retracted inwardly until the forward head thereon is at the inner end of the lead clutch-tube Fig. 5 is alongitudinal section throu h the exterior barrel portion or casing of tie pencil;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of an inner forward' tubular portionv and associated arts, of the pencil, the features shown in lipig. 6 being disposed within the 'forward portion of the exterior barrel or casing in the' finished encil;

Fig. 7 1s a side elevation, partly in section, of an inner rear tubular portion, with asso'- ciated parts. to be inserted into therear part .of the exterior barrel or casing of the pencil, Fig. 7 also villustrating the exposed end cap of the pencil swiveled to said rear tubular portion and as having been turned downwardly; v

Figs. 8, 9, l0, 11 and 12 showthe respective parts of the lead holding and actuating mechanism finall disposed centrall within the pencil, tl'iese parts, when inserted within the pencil, being in assembled'longitudinal relation;

Fig. 13 is aside elevation of a portion of the outer casing and the inner rear tubular member of the pencil projecting rearwardly therefrom,with the rear end capv shown as havingbeen turned downwardly, leaving the eraser exposed for use or to be withu drawn toropenin the chamber in the pencil for reserve lea s;

Fig. 14 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale, through the pencil, taken on the dotted line 14-14- of Fig. l; A

Fig. 15 is a similar section through the same, taken on the dotted linev 15--15 of Fig. l;

g; nasales Fig. 16 is a similar section through the same, taken on the dotted line 16-16 of Fig. 1;

ig. 17 is a similar section, taken on the dotted line 17-17 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 18 is a similarsection through the same, taken on the dotted line 18-18 of Fig: 1.

number of the parts of the pencil shown in the drawings are identical with like parts shown in my aforesaid pending application and therefore these parts will be only briefly described. while the novel features of the present invention will be set forth in detail.

The pencil comprises four main tubular members 10, 11, 12 and 13, the member 13 being polygonal in 'cross-section and -rigid with the member 11 and carried thereby.

'The member 10 constitutes the exterior shell or casing of the pencil and is tapered at its forward end to form a tip-member 14 through which the lead 15 may be fed into the pencil and also projected therefrom for writing purposes. The rear end of the casing 10 is normally closed by a cap 16 which is, by means of a yoke 17, swiveled to the rear ortion of thetubular member 12, said mem er 12 having elongated openings 18 in its opposite sides to receive the forward bent ends 19 of the side arms of said yoke. The openings 18 permit the yoke 17 to .have a longitudinal movement when pressed toward the rear end, of the casing 1() or to the position shown in Fig. 1 and when drawn outwardly therefrom to beswung downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 13 to expose the eraser 2() which plugs the rear end of the tubular member 12. l,

The front end of the tubular member 12 is secured to a nut 21 which contains a spirally threaded hole 22 and a hollow recess or chamber 23 to freely receive the rear end of the tubular member 13, as shown in `Fig. 1. rl`he nut 21 is formed around its exterior with an annular groove 24. The spirally threaded hole 22 in the nut 21 cooperates with the longitudinally movable spiral rod 25, as will be understood on reference to Fig. 1, and the forward end of' the nut 21 enters and interlocks with the rear end of the tubular member 11, said member 11 at its rear end being slit to form spring members adaptedto pass over and then clutch inwardly into the annular groove 24 of said nut. lin the assembly of the parts the nut 21 is forced into the rear end of the tubular member 11 and when therein-said nut serves to interlock the tubular members 11, 12 together and permit the member 12, with the nut, to have free rotary movement, while the member 11 remains stationary with the outer casing 10. The tubular member 12 forms within it a chamber for reserve leads and said chamber is accessible when the eraser 20 is withdrawn from the tube and closed when said eraser is returned to position. rlhe 'tubular member 12 is rotated from the cap 16 when it is desired to effect a longitudinal movement of the spiral rod 25.

The tubular member 11 is firmly bound against the inner walls of the casing 10 and at its forward portion is of reduced diameter or offset inwardly and continued forwardly, as at 26, said portion 26 forming a concentric tube which projects into the forward tapered portion 14 of the shell or casing 10.

The tubular member 13 is concentrically within the tube 11 and its member 26, and yat its rear end said tube 13 freely enters the recess 23 of the nut 21. The forward por; tion of the. tube 13 is rigid with the auxiliary tube 26 and projects forwardlyr beyond the same, as shown in Figs. 1, 2' and 3 and is turned inwardly at its forward edges to form an annular flange 27. The polygonal tubular member 13 being rigid with the auxiliary tube 26, has no rotary movement.

`ihe' operative mechanism occupying a central longitudinal position within the pencil and by means of which the lead is propelled forwardly or retracted rearwardly on the rotation in one direction or the other of the tube 12, is shown in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 and consists of the aforesaid spirally threaded rod or screw 25 having on its forward end a polygonal head 29 containing a threaded recess 30, a propeller rod 31 threaded on its rear end to be screwed into said recess 30 and having on its forward end a head or section 32 of somewhat greater diameter than the body of the rod, a tubular clutch member 33 to be slipped upon the rod 31 from the rear end thereof and adapted to yieldingly clutch said rod with a spring action, a tubular clutch member 34 of greater diameter than the clutch member 33 and to be slipped upon said rod 31 and being adapted to havev an outwardly springing action to thereby yieldingly engage the in,- terior surfaces of the tubular member 13, said clutch members 33, 34 being free of each other, and a tubular lead-clutch or member 35 which has a polygonal rearv head 36 and forwardly projecting slitsides 37 adapted to grasp the lead 15. The head 36' has a hole 38 in it and in the assembly of the parts the rod 31 is, starting 'at its rear threaded end, inserted into the clutch member 35 from the forward end thereof and 'through the hole 33 until the head 32 on said red abuts against the inner surface of the head 36 at said hole, and thereafter the clutch sleeve 33 is slid upon the rod 31 from the rear end thereof, after which the clutch sleeve or member 34 is slid upon the rod 31, and thereupon the threaded rear end of the rod 31 is screwed into the recess 30 of the polygonal head 29 on the forward end of the spiral rod 25. The head 32 on the propeller rod 31 `is adapted to have longitudinal movement within the clutch member 35 andv at its forward. end directly engages the rear end of the lead 15, as may be understood on reference to Fig. 2.

The polygonal head 29 on vthe spiral rod 25 and the polygonal head 36 on the clutch member 35 conform to the interior crosssection of the polygonal tube 13 within which they are placed, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, and are prevented from rotating within the tube 13 by reason of the polygonal cross section of-said heads and tube, and hence the screw or rod 25, rod 31 and lead-clutch 35 can have no rotary motion. The heads 29, 36 may, however, have longitudinal sliding movement within the tube 13 and are shown in several of their positions in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive. The means for propelling the head 29 and rod 31 forwardly to expose or wholly eject the lead 15 and for retracting said head and rod to withdraw the lead into the pencil, consist of the rotary tube 12, nut 21 and rodor screw 25, said rod or screw moving forwardly when the tube 12 and nut 21 are turned in one direction and rearwardly when said tube and nut are turned or rotated in the reverse direction. The clutchmember 35 will permit the lead 15 to be forced through. it for exposure or expelling purposes, but will, by reason of its spring sides sufficiently bind against the lead to withdraw the lead into the pencil when the member 35, rod 31 and rod or screw 25 are retracted inwardly.

The tubular friction clutches 33, 34 per form important duties with respect to the practical operation of the mechanism of the pencil, and, as aforesaid, the clutch 33 is yieldingly bound against the propeller rod 31 and the clutch 34 against the inner surface of the guiding tube 13, said clutches having slit sides, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11 which are sprung to create spring action, the split sides of the clutch 33 being sprung inwardl to grip the rod 31 and the slit sides o the clutch 34 being sprung outwardly to engage the inner surface of the tube 13.

In Fig. 1 the several parts of the mechanism are shown in the relation they bear when the lead 15 is exposed for writing purposes, and in Fig. l it may be seen that the clutch 33 is against the head 36 of the leadclutch 35, and that the clutch 34 is idle in an intermediate position between said head 36 and the head 29 on the rod 25. In the position of the' parts shown in Fig. 1, the head 32 on the propeller rod 31 isA against the inner side of the head 36 on the lead clutch 35 and the clutch 33 is against the outer or rear side of said head, and under this condition it may be seen that a rotation of the nut 21 in a direction to feed the lead l5`outwardly results in the head 29, rod 31, clutch 33 and lead-clutch 35 traveling forwardly together, as they did when the nut 21 was rotated to present the lead for writing purposes as shown in Fig. 1 and as they would if the nut 21 were further rotated to expose a little more of the lead, the clutch 33 serving during such operation to preserve the due'relation of the lead-clutch 35 to the rod 31 or in other words to prevent the rod 31 from sliding through the lead clutch 35 and leaving the same stationary. A reverse rotation of the nut 21 to retract the lead, causesthe head 29, rod 31, 4clutch 33 and lead-clutch 35 to travelinwardly together, the head 32 on the rod 31 then acting against the inner side of the head 36 to draw the head-clutch inwardly.

Whenthe lead 15 has been so shortened by use that it should be expelled, the nut 21 will berotated to move the rod 25, head 29 and rod 31 forwardly to a greater extent than when the lead is to be presented for writing purposes, and at this time during the forward travel of the rod 31 the clutch 33 thereon being against the head-clutch 35 will force said clutch 35 forwardly with the rod 31 until the head 36 on the clutch 35 meets and becomes arrested by the flange 27 on the forward end of the guiding tube 13, as shown in Fig. 2, and at this time, during the continued forward movement of the rod 31 the said rod will slide through the clutch 33, which becomes arrested by the head 36, and the head 32 on said rod will travel sufciently through the lead-clutch 35 to expel the piece of lead 15, asshown in Figs. 2 and 3.

During the travel of the rod 31 after the lead-clutch 35 and clutch 33 have become arrested by the presence of the flange 27, the head 29 reaches the clutch 34 and forces the same along the tube 13 and over the clutch 33 and causes the rear inwardly anged end 40 of the clutch 34 to engage the rear end of the clutch 33, as shown inFig. 3.

After the piece of lead has been expelled the lead-clutch 35 and rod 31 and its parts must be retracted vinwardly preparatory to the pencil being supplied with another stick of lead, and this is accomplished by a. reverse rotation of the nut 21 to induce a rearward travel of the spiral rod 25, head 29, and rod 31, said rod 31 at first traveling rearwardly from the position shown in Fig.

3 to that shown in Fig. 4, independently of and through the clutch 33 and carryin its head v32 against the inner end of the eadclutch 35, thereby restoring the initial relation of the said head 32. leadclutch 35 and clutch 33. During this rst rearward travel of the rod 31 to the position shownV in Fig. 4, the rod would carry the clutch 33 rearwardly from the lead-clutch 35 except for bg the head 29against. the clutch 33er to the clutch 34, and in that event the head 32, clutch 35 and clutch 33 would lose or not regain their initial relation. The strength of the clutch 33 is such that the rod 31 cannot'slide through it unless the clutch becomes arrested. On the forward travel of the Fod 31 tothe position shown in Fig. 3, the clutch 33 becomes arrested by the head 36 and flange 27 and hence the rod may be forced through the clutch, and on the rearward travel of the rod 31 to the position shown in Fig. 4 the clutch 34 serves as a stop to arrest the clutch 33 while the rod 31 slides through it.Y rl`he friction grip of the clutch 34 against the tube 1,3 is such that it is not overcome by the tendency of the clutch 33 to push the clutch 34 rearwardly while the rod 31 is retracted through the clutch 33, but when the head `32`on the rod 31 reaches the head 36 on the lead-clutch 35 and the nut 21 is continued in reverse rotation the threaded rod 25 will draw the rod 31 to its full inner position, overcoming the frictional resistance of the clutch 34, and at this time the head 32 on the rod 31 willdraw the lead-clutch 35 inwardly and said clutch 35 pressing' against the clutch-.34 will force it inwardly along the tube 13. After the rod 31, clutches 33, 34 and lead-clutch 35 have reached their full inward position, an additional piece of lead may be introduced through the tip-member 14l and into the lead-clutch 35, after which on a rotation of the nut 21 to move the rod 31 forwardly the lead will become exposed for writing pur'- poses and the parts will take the relation in which they are shown in Fig. 1, the clutch 33 leaving the clutch 34 and traveling with the rod 31 and lead-clutch 35 and said clutch 34 not again coming into use until pushed position shown in Fig. 3, when it will again act as -a stop to prevent the clutch 33 from leaving the lead-clutch 35 during the initial rearward travel of the rod 31 to the position shown in Fig. 4.

'llhe clutches 33, 34 are of lvery consider- 'able importance and with their cooperative arts, constitute the more essential novel eatures of the invention not disclosed. in m aforesaidpending a plication.

di; is believed that t e operation of the pencil will be fully understood without further detailed explanation. l may add, however, that the cap or head 16 is usedto rotate the tube 12 and nut 21 and that the detailsA of the cap are not claimed herein, having been made a subject of my aforesaid pending application. My aforesaid application also fully-discloses the casing 10, tubes 11, 12, 13 and spiral rod 25 of this application,

sald parte having been repeated in this aplcation to illustrate the present invention 1n an operative structure.

l do not limit my invention to all of theV intensa details shown and described, since I propose to omit some and modify others of said details in accordance with the size. and nature of the several kinds of pencils manufactured.

What l claim as m invention and desire to secure by Lettersatent, is:

1.111 a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube partly closed at its forward end forming' a stop, a propeller rod therein having a guiding head on its rear end engaging said tube, a tubular lead-holding member slidable within said tube and having a rear head to engage as aI sto the stop on the forward portion of sai longitudinal tube, thereby to arrest said member, said propel- 1er rod extending freely through a hole in said rear head and having within said member a head to engage the lead to move it forwardly and said rear head to retract said lead-holding member, means for propelling said rod forwardly and retracting the same rearwardly, and means on `said pro eller rod to check rearward movement o said lead-holding member except when the inner end of said member is engaged by the rear end of the forward head on the propeller rod and said rod is then moved rearwardl 2. ln a lead pencil, a longitudinal id-y ing tube partly closed at its forwardghnd forming a stop, a ropeller rod therein having a guiding hea on its rear end engaging said tube, a tubular leadholdin member vslidable within said tube and having a rear head to engage as a sto the stop on the forward portion of sai longitudinal tube,

ler ro extending freely through a hole in said rear head and having within said member a head to engage the ead to move it forwardly and said rear head to retract said lead-holding member, means for propellin said rod forwardly and 'retracting the sai rod rearwardly, and checking means on said rod through which the rod may be moved when the lead holding memberl is arrested and said rod is moved through the said lead holding member to eject the lead and which revents rearward movement of said memer until the inner end of said member is engaged by the rear end of the forward head on the propeller rod on its rearward move. ment.

3. lin a lead pencil, a longitudinal iding tube partly closed at its forward en forming a stop, a propeller rod therein having a guiding head on its rear end engaging said tube, a tubular lead-holding member slidable within said tube and having a rear head to engage as a stop the stop on the forward portion of said longitudinal tube, thereby to arrest said member, isaid propeller rod extendin freely through a hole in said rear head -f` having within said member a head to engage the lead to move it forwardly and ica 'thereb to arrest said member, said -propel- 'ies Y said rear head to retract said lead-holding member, means for propelling said rod forwardly and retractlng the said y rod rearwardly,l and checking means on said rod through which the rod may be 'moved when the lead holdin member is arrested and said rod is moved trough the said lead holding member to eject the lead and which prevents rearward movement of said member until the inner end of said member is engaged by the rear end of the forward head on the proeller rod on its rearward movement, said ongitudinal tube, the rear head on the ropeller rod and the head on the lead-hol ing member being polygonal in cross-section.

4. In a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube partly closed at its forward end forming a stop, a propeller rod therein having a guiding head on its rear end engaging said tube, a tubular lead-holding member slidable within' said tube and having a rear head to engage as a stop the stop on the forward portion of said longitudinal tube, thereby to arrest said member, said propeller rod extendin freely through a hole in said rear head and having within said member a head to engage the lead to'move it forwardly and said rear head to retract said leadholding member, means for propelling said rod forwardl and retracting the same rearwardly, a friction clutch on and engagin said rod and normally maintaining sai lead-holding member and the forward head on the propeller rod in engagement with each other and permitting said rod to move forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and means on the retraction of the rod for preventing said clutch from moving therewith until the rear end of the forward head on said rod again engages the inner end of said member.

, 5. In a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube partly closed at its Yforward end forming a stop, a propeller rod therein having a guiding head on its rear end engaging said tube, a tubular lead-holding member slidable Within said tube and having A"a rear head to engage as a stop the stop on the forward portion of said longitudinal tube, thereby to arrest'said member, said propeller rod extending freely through a hole in said rear head and having within said member a head to engage the lead to move it forwardly and said rear head to retract said lead-holding member, means for propelling said rod forwardly and retracting the same rearwardly, a friction clutch on and engaging said rod and normally maintaining said lead-holding member and the forward head on the propeller rod 'in enga ement with each other and permitting sai rod to slide forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and a second friction clutch on said rod engaging said 'ding tube and normally free on said rotdlnd positioned to be engagedby said guiding head and moved against said first clutch when said rod has moved forwardly to its lead-ejecting position, thereby to prevent the first clutch from moving rearwardly with said rod until the'rear end of the forward .head on the rod again engages the inner end of said member.

6. In a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube partly closed at its forward end forming a stop, a propeller rod therein having a guiding head on its rear 'end enga ing said tube, a tubular lead-holding memlber slidable within said tube and having a rear head to engage as a stop the stop on the forward portion of said longitudinal tube, thereby to arrest said member, said propeller rod extending freely through a hole in said rear head and having within said member a head to engage the lead to move it forwardly and said rear head to retract'said lead-holding member, means for propelling said rod forwardly and retracting the same rearwardly, a friction clutch on'and engaging said rod and normally maintaining said lead-holding member and the forward head on the propeller rod in engagement with each other and permitting said rod to slide forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and a second friction clutch on said rod engaging said guiding tube and normally free on said rod and positioned to be engaged by said guiding head and moved against said first clutch when said rod has moved forwardly to its lead-ejecting position, thereby to prevent the first clutch from moving rearwardly with said rod until the rear end ofthe forward l ,head on the rod againengages the inner end of said member, said longitudinal tube, the rear head on said propeller rod and the head on the lead-holding member being polygonal in cross-section.

7. In a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a lead-holding clutch member slidable therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said clutch member on its extreme forward movement, a propeller` rod freely passing through said hole and having a forward head within said `clutch member to engage the lead when the rod is moved forwardly and. said head end when the rod is moved rearwardly to retract said clutch member, a guiding head on the rear end of said rod, a spiral rod connected with said guiding-head, a nut engaging said spiral rod, exposed means for rotating said nut and thereby imparting longitudinal movement to said spiral rod and propeller rod, and means on said propeller rod to check rearward movement of said lead-holding member except when the inner end of said member is engaged by the rear end of the forward head on the propeller rod and said rod is then moved rearwardly.

8. ln a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a lead-holding clutch member slidable therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said clutch member on its eXtreme forward movement, a propeller rod freely passing through said hole and having a forward head within said clutch member to engage the lead when the rod is moved forwardly and said head end when the rod is moved rearwardly to retract said clutch member, a guiding head on the rear end of said rod, a spiral rod connected with said guiding-head, a nut engaging said spiral rod, exposed means for rotating said nut and thereby imparting longitudinal movement to said spiral rod and propeller rod, and checking means on said rod through ywhich the rod may be moved when` the lead holding member is arrested and said rod is movedv through the lead holding member to eject the lead and which prevents rearward movement of said member until the inner end of said member is engaged by the rear end of the forward head on the propeller rodv on its rearward movement.

9. ln a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a lead-holding clutch member slidable therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said clutch mem ber on its eXtreme forward movement, a propeller rod freely passing through said hole and having a forward heax within said clutch member to engage the le d when. the rod is moved forwardly and sa d head end when the rod is moved rearward to retract said clutch member, a guiding h ad on the rear end of said rod, a spiral rod ,onnect/ed with said guiding-head, a nut engaging said means for rotating vsaid nut and thereby imparting longitudinal movement to said spiralV rod and propeller rod, a friction clutch on and engaging said rod and normally maintaining said leadholding member and the forward head on the propeller rod in engagement with each other and permitting said rod to move forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and means on the retraction of the rod for preventing said clutch from moving therewith until the rear end of the forward head on said rod again engages the inner end of said i spiral rod, exposed v member.

10. lln a lead lpencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a leadolding clutch member slidable'therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said clutch member on its extreme forward movement, a propeller rod freely passing through said hole and having a forward head within mid i clutch member to engage rod is moved forwardly and said head end the lead when the lon and engaging said essaies when the rod is moved rearwardly to retract said clutch member, a guiding head on the rear end of said rod, a spiral rod oonf nested with said guiding-head, a nut enf gaging saidspiral rod, exposed means for rotating said nut and thereby imparting longitudinal movement to said spiral rod and propeller rod, a friction clutch on and engaging vsaid rod and normally maintaiir ing said lead-holding member and the forward head on the propeller rod in engagement with each other and permitting said rod to slide forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and a second friction clutch on said rod engaging said guiding tube and: normally free on said rod and positioned to be engaged by said guiding head and moved against said first clutch when said rod has moved forwardly to its lead-ejectin position, thereby to prevent the first clutc from moving rearwardly with said rod until the rear end of the forward head on the rod again engages the inner end of said member.

1l. ln lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a lead-holding clutch member slidable therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said clutch member;

on its extreme forward movement, a pron peller rod freely passing through said hole and having a forward head within said clutch member to engage the lead when the rod is moved forwardly and said head end when the rod is moved rearwardly to retraet said clutch member, a guiding head on said rod, manually operative vmeans for imparting direct longitudinal movement forwardly and backwardly to said rod, a friction olutc on and engaging said rod and normally maintaining said lead-holding member and the forward head on,l the propeller rod in engagement with each other and permitting said rod to move forwardly through said member to eject the lead when said member is arrested, and means on the retraction of the rod for preventing said clutch from moving therewith until the rear end of the forward head on said rod again engages the inner end of said member.

12. ln a lead pencil, a longitudinal guiding tube, a lead-holding'cluteh member slidable therein and having a hole in its rear head end, means for arresting said cluth member on its extreme forward movement, a propeller rod freely `passing through said hole and having a forward head within said clutch member to engage the lead when the rodis moved forwardly and said head end when the rod is moved rearwardly to retract said clutch member, a Aguiding head on said rod, manually operative means for imparting direct longitudinal movement forward] and backwardly to said rod', a friction clute rod and normally maintaining said lead-holding member and ian the forward head on the propeller rod in engagement with eac-h other and permitting said rod to slide forwardly through said member to ejet the lead when said member is arrested, and a"second friction eluteli on said rod engaging said guiding tube and normally free on said rod and positioned to be engaged by said guiding head and moved against said first. clutch when said rod 10 has moved forwardly to its lead-ejectng position, thereby to prevent the first clutch from moving rearwardly with said rod until the rear end of the forward head 0n the rod again engages the inner end of said member.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of March, A. D. 1922.

ABRAHAM POLLAK. 

